Tag Archives: single parenting

Human Growth and Development

10 Things I Hate About You

Title: 10 Things I Hate About You

Date: 1999

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Human Growth and Development

Keywords: Adolescence, conflict management, divorce, types of fathering, parent-child relationship, social and cultural influences, single parenting, teens

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: “10 Things I Hate About You” is a modern spinoff of William Shakespeare’s play “The Taming of the Shrew.” Cameron is a new student at Padua High who is learning how to navigate his new environment. He is shown around by Michael, who ends up becoming his best friend. In the hall, he sets his eyes on Bianca Stratford and is completely entranced by everything about her. The only problem is, she isn’t allowed to date, that is unless her older sister Kat is dating too. Unlike Bianca, Kat isn’t entirely pleasant. Michael sets off to find someone to date Kat so that he can take Bianca out and that leads him to one the the most popular guys in school, that also happens to be a complete jerk, Joey Donner. Michael tells Joey that he can take Bianca out on a date if he pays someone to take Kat out too. The only man that is willing to take Kat out is bad-boy Patrick Verona. Much to everyone’s surprise, Patrick and Kat actually make quite a good pair. The movie follows the teens as they navigate adolescence and try to follow what makes them happy.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does Kat and Bianca’s father parent them differently? Do you think their father gives his daughters the appropriate amount of freedom?

Places to view: Itunes, Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Internal Dynamics of Families

Sleepless in Seattle

Title: Sleepless in Seattle

Date: 1993

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: Family trauma, response to crisis, stress and coping, single parenting

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Newly widowed Sam Baldwin and his 8-year-old son Jonah move from Chicago to Seattle in order to attempt to escape the grief that comes from losing a mother and a wife. Even after Eighteen months, Sam still is stuck in the grieving process and can barely sleep. Even though Jonah misses his mother, he wants his dad to meet someone new so he can be happy again. Then, on Christmas Eve, Sam ends up sharing his life story with his late wife and talked about how their life together was absolute bliss and perfection. Annie Reed hears Sam confessing his love for his wife on the radio and ends up falling in love with him. Even though Annie is engaged to another man, she can’t get Sam out of her mind. Annie writes to Sam to meet her on top of the Empire State Building. Will things work out for Annie and Sam, or is their situation just too complicated for things to work out between the two?

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does being widowed affect how Sam parents his son Jonah?

Places to view: Itunes, Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Families in Society

The Pacifier

Title: The Pacifier

Date: 2005

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Families in Society

Keywords: single parenting, work and family, response to crises, parent-child relationships

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary:David Plummer died under the watch of Navy Seal Shane Wolfe, and now Shane has to protect Plummer’s five children while their mother goes to take care of her husband’s matters. It turns out that David was a government scientist that had top-secret government information, GHOST, at the house. As Shane tries to keep the children safe, he is also on the search for GHOST within the house. Even though he had no prior experience with children, he manages to parent five children on his own.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: In what ways was Shane a parent to the children that lost their father. In what ways did Shane step in to be their father figure. How did their mother function without her spouse?

Places to view: Itunes, Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann